Pearson tells of his struggle with cancer

By Debra Jopson

August 4, 2012 — 3.00am

THE charismatic and outspoken indigenous leader Noel Pearson has fallen quiet over the past six months as he has undergone chemotherapy for lymphoma, it has been revealed.

Although the cancer is in remission, Mr Pearson has had a horrific six months, according to the latest issue of The Monthly. The magazine's editor, John van Tiggelen, interviewed Mr Pearson before a visit to his Cape York homeland by the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott.

"I'm 47 this year ... the average life expectancy of males at my end of the country is 49" ... Noel Pearson.Credit:Rebecca Hallas

Mr Pearson, who has a young family, has admitted to having bleak thoughts in recent months.

''I'm 47 this year, going on 67. The average life expectancy of males at my end of the country is 49. When I look at my class picture at Hope Vale State School, there are a lot of friends missing,'' he said.

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He also despaired after falling out with the editor of The Australian, Chris Mitchell, who until February ran his column regularly, and then with the News Ltd journalist Tony Koch, with whom he had a long association. The discord began when the newspaper started pursuing alleged funding improprieties at the indigenous Djarragun College near Cairns, which Mr Pearson has backed, The Monthly says.

''I can't tell you how close that came to defeating me. I was drugged out as hell [from chemo] and not seeing clearly. I thought my time was up,'' Mr Pearson told Mr van Tiggelen.

As a conservative-leaning lawyer known for oratory, Mr Pearson has championed projects designed to shift indigenous people off welfare and make parents act more responsibly. In the past, his style has been one of blistering attack rather than tactical retreat.

Lymphomas are the most common form of blood cancer, the Cancer Council of Australia says.